THE MUNSTER and Leinster teams have been named for the biggest match on the domestic rugby calendar. Jerry Flannery returns to the Munster side that sees four changes for the Magners league clash at Thomond Park.
Flannery is one of four international players making a return to Magners League action for this top of the table clash with Leinster tomorrow night.
However, two players named in the extended squad on Tuesday, captain Paul O’Connell and Keith Earls have both been forced to withdraw, both suffering from groin strain.
In relation to their availability for the Heineken Cup game in a week’s time team manager Shaun Payne said that neither had been ruled out at this stage.
18 of Friday’s match day 22 were involved when the sides last met in the RDS back in October. From that game, that Leinster won 30-0, Denis Leamy and Denis Hurley are now joined on the injury list by O’Connell and Earls.
In the absence of O’Connell, Munster will be led by Ronan O’Gara who is set to win his 180th Munster cap.
Munster: P Warwick; D Howlett, L Mafi, J de Villiers, I Dowling; R O’Gara capt, T O’Leary; M Horan, J Flannery, J Hayes; D O’Callaghan, M O’Driscoll; A Quinlan, N Ronan, D Wallace. Replacements: D Fogarty, T Buckley, N Williams, J Coughlan, P Stringer, T Gleeson, S Deasy.
Leinster named their team earlier today as Gordon D’Arcy starts at inside centre and will partner Fergus McFadden in the only change in the backline to the side that defeated Connacht last weekend. Rob Kearney continues at full-back with Girvan Dempsey and Isa Nacewa on the wings, while Eoin Reddan continues at half-back alongside Jonathan Sexton.
Jamie Heaslip is also named in the starting line up for Friday’s interprovincial derby and the number eight is named in a back-row which also includes fellow Ireland back-row forward Shane Jennings and Scotland’s Nathan Hines.
Leo Cullen leads the side and starts at second row alongside Devin Toner.
Cian Healy joins fellow Ireland internationals Bernard Jackman and Malcolm O’Kelly on the bench.
LEINSTER: Rob Kearney, Girvan Dempsey, Fergus McFadden, Gordon D’Arcy, Isa Nacewa, Jonathan Sexton, Eoin Reddan, Stan Wright, John Fogarty, CJ van der Linde, Leo Cullen CAPTAIN, Devin Toner, Nathan Hines, Shane Jennings, Jamie Heaslip, REPLACEMENTS: Bernard Jackman, Cian Healy, Malcolm O’Kelly, Stephen Keogh, Paul O’Donohoe, Shaun Berne, Eoin O’Malley
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